Australia’s opening opponent today in the World Twenty20, Ireland has beaten Pakistan and England in the previous two 50-over World Cups and accounted for Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in practice matches over the past few days.

"He (McDermott) has brought his success into this camp and it would be great to have him around a bit longer rather than three weeks," Johnston told News Limited.

"Hopefully things can be done to keep him.

"He’s certainly old school Aussie. It’s his way or the high way, which instantly feeds into the mentality we have here.

"He’s been great. He’s been a breath of fresh air with his views.

"He’s run a few training sessions for us with quality rather than quantity, which is good I think, especially leading into a Twenty20 event.

"It’s 'five-star' having him around."

Even Johnston, 38, the former Sydney grade cricketer and occasional NSW seamer, has found sudden improvement with advice from McDermott, one of Australia’s most successful fast bowlers and, until recently, the national team's bowling coach.

"The grip, the way I hold the ball, I’ve been doing it for 20 years and he advised me to do something a little bit different," Johnston said.

"I can see instant changes there.

"He’s helped the other guys in the squad who are new to international cricket, they’re loving having Billy around."

While Ireland’s immediate focus is on the game today, the biggest question is what does the future hold for Irish cricket, consistently the best of the second-tier nations.

The best Irish cricketer in the tournament has already played against Australia. Eoin Morgan made 30 from 16 balls in a practice match England narrowly won last Monday.

"We certainly don’t want to be a feeder for English cricket," Johnston said.

"Eoin has gone and our opening bowler Boyd Rankin is finishing with Ireland at the end of this year to concentrate on trying to play Test cricket for England.

"But being an Aussie going over there to play for Ireland and seeing England steal their players is heartbreaking."

Ireland has applied to the International Cricket Council for acceptance as the 11th Test nation by 2020 and the ICC provided $500,000 for a first class competition, which will consistent of three teams.

"It gives us a great chance because obviously if you haven’t got a first class structure you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re going to play Test cricket," Johnston said.

"Currently we play club cricket, and I’m not talking Sydney first grade standard. I’m talking third or fourth grade.

"We need to be playing a higher standard of cricket more often."

The chance of another Test nation seems remote indeed given the hopelessly political nature of the game dominated by the sub-continent and the drain weaklings Bangladesh and Zimbabwe already put on international cricket.

Ironically, Ireland have beaten both, again, in practice matches over the past few days leading into this tournament, but results don’t matter in cricket nearly as much as the cosy Afro-Asia click which dominates the international game, to its detriment.